In this multidisciplinary team -which is first of its kind in Finland- adult wisdom is studied in its various manifestations. Scholars are from different scientific disciplines: university pedagogy, education, developmental psychology, philosophy, history of education and information technology. There are also adult educators in the group. The core of the research and development is wisdom: how it is studied, how it is enhanced, taught and learned and which kind of educational phenomenon we refer as it is question of wise action, teaching and learning.

Development of wisdom and learning is seen as life-long, complex phenomenon. The approach is strongly philosophical-humanistic and history-based, but takes into account also empirical studies.

See below for the most relevant publications. So far, research has focused on

cognitive component of wisdom (aka postformal thinking),

history of education (philosopher J. Comenius and his idea of life as a school for wisdom)

Kallio, E. 2001. Reflections on the modern mass university and the question of the autonomy of thinking. In J. Välimaa (ed.), Finnish higher education in transition. Jyväskylä, Finland: Institute for Educational Research, pp 73‑90.

Kallio, E. 2011. Integrative thinking is the key: an evaluation of current research into the development of thinking in adults. Theory & Psychology 21, 6, 785-801.

Kallio, E. 2019 (forthcoming). Problematic questions in the study of wisdom. To be published in Development of thinking in adulthood – perspectives of learning, thinking and human resources. Routledge.

Kallio, E. 2019 (forthcoming). The broad field of the development of adult thinking – basics and open questions. To be published in Development of thinking in adulthood – perspectives of learning, thinking and human resources. Routledge.